Election Day 2018: Who has gotten the most money from the NRA?

Donations from the National Rifle Association for the 2018 midterm election are down sharply this election cycle following a year that saw several high-profile mass shootings, one of which led to a call for companies and candidates to cut ties with the gun owner advocacy group.

In the 2014 midterm election, the NRA’s political action committee and political nonprofit arm spent more than $14 million on independent expenditures and around a million on direct campaign contributions to candidates and groups. At this point for the 2018 election, the NRA has spent $9,114,585 in independent expenditures and just over $800,000 in direct contributions to candidates.

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In the 2016 presidential election, the group spent a whopping $54 million in support of the presidential and congressional races. Of that amount, $11 million went in support of Donald Trump’s campaign and nearly $20 million went out in expenditures attacking Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

Organizations such as the NRA may support (or oppose) candidates by making independent expenditures. Independent expenditures are generally in the form of advertisements for a candidate – or against that candidate’s opponent. Independent expenditures can also include items like paying for flyers to be printed or paying the postage to mail them out.

Independent expenditures are not considered contributions to candidates and are not subject to contribution limits. The donor may not coordinate with candidates in spending the money.

In contrast, the gun safety political action committee created by Gabrielle Giffords, the former Arizona congresswoman who was shot in the head at a 2011 constituent meeting in a Tucson suburb parking lot, has spent $15 million this election cycle.

Here are the candidates whose campaigns have received the most direct contributions from the NRA in this election cycle. The numbers below are from Open Secrets, a nonpartisan website that “tracks money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy,” and they are based on contributions from PACs and individuals giving $200 or more.

All donations were made during the 2018 election cycle and were released by the Federal Election Commission. Figures for the current election cycle are based on data released on Oct. 26, 2018.

House of Representatives

Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee – $10,850

John Culberson, R-Texas – $9,900

John Faso, R-New York – $9,900

Collin Peterson, D-New Mexico – $9,900

Bruce Poliquin, R-Maine – $9,900

Jim Renacci, R-Ohio – $9,900

Pau Ryan, R-Wisconsin – $9,900

Pete Sessions, R-Texas – $9,900

Claudia Tenney, R-New York – $9,900

Lee Zeldin, R-New York – $9,900

Steve Chabot, R-Ohio – $7,950

Mike Coffman, R-Colorado – $7,950

Andy Barr, R-Kentucky – $7,450

Senate

Ted Cruz, R-Texas – $9,900

Josh Hawley, R-Missouri – $9,900

Dean Heller, R-Nevada – $9,900

Patrick Morrisey, R-West Virginia – $9,900

Matt Rosendale, R-Montana – $9,900

Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi – $8,950

By the numbers:

The NRA donated $11,016,966.13 this calendar year to date.

Three Democratic candidates for the House – Collin Peterson of New Mexico; Henry Cuellar of Texas, Sanford Bishop of Georgia – received more than $1,000 from the NRA during this election cycle.

Eight Democratic candidates for the House each received $13 from the NRA during this election cycle.

When it comes to direct contributions from gun rights groups, Republicans are the overwhelming beneficiaries. In this election cycle, a group of gun rights organizations, including the NRA, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Safari Club International, Gun Owners of America, National Association for Gun Rights, Dallas Safari Club and the Ohio Gun Collectors Club, have donated to 206 Republicans for a total of more than $2 million and six Democrats, for a little over $55,300.

Gun control groups have spent more than $5.6 million against Republican candidates vs. $4.1 million in support of Democrats.

Between its political nonprofit and super PAC, Everytown for Gun Safety former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s gun control group, has donated more than $4 million (most in advertising buys) to help Lucy McBath’s campaign for Georgia’s 6th District.